Stamp-affixing machine.



PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907.

W. 0. VAN VLIET.

STAMP APFIXING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIOH FILED APR.9.1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

awmc/wtoz i i/ Macaw PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907.

W. 8. VAN VLIET. STAMP APFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AP1L9. 1904.

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PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907. I

W. O. VAN VLIBT. STAMP AFPIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR-9.1904.

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I wi bmad'o eo yham KM Snow Wow v PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. VAN VLIET, OFBROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

STAMP-AFFIXING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 9, 1904:. Serial No. 202,326-

Patented J an. 22, 1907.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. VAN VLIET, a citizen of the UnitedStates, anda resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stamp-Aliixing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to amachine for affixing stamps, labels, and thelike to envelops, cards, wrappers, and other objects.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of this characterwhich shall be compact, soas to be adapted to be set upon an ordinarydesk or table for use; and the invention consists, mainly, of astamp-afiixing machine wherein the stamps are held flat in a spacebetween two parts of a table and are fed forward to position ofapplication by reciprocating feeding mechanism operating in the spacebetween the two arts of the table, a second horizontal table eingarranged at the end of the main table with feeding mechanism operatingtransversely to the firstnamed feeding mechanism.

The invention also consists in the construction, arrangement, andcombination of parts, all as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accom anying drawings, to which reference is ma e and which forma part of this specification, Figure 1 is an enlarged front elevation ofmy new stamp-affixing machine. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation ofthe same. Fig.3 is a plan view of the same, the table for holding thesheet of stamps being removed. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on4 4 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional. elevation on line y yof Fig. 3.

In the drawings, 2 designates the main frame of the machine, held inthis instance upon suitable legs 'or supports 3 3, rising from a base 4.The frame 2 is provided with a table 5, upon which the sheet of stampsor labels 6 is placed in flat condition,-

the table being provided with one or more, preferably two, ways or slots7, through which the feed device or devices 8 operate for feeding thesheet of stamps forward. The bottom plate or floor '5 of the table is,by preference, formed of three plates of glass, as indicated in Fig. 4,the several plates being spaced to form the said ways or slots 7. Aplate \or lid 9, preferably of glass, is held by the main frame 2 overor upon the sheet of stamps 6, so as to protect and confine the stamps,as shown in Fig. 4, so that the operator may see the stamps and so as tofacilitate the feeding of the sheet forward by the feeding devices. Atonecorner of the structure is fixed a standard 10, which sustains aplunger 12, normally held in elevated position by a spring 13.

. When the sheet 6 of stamps has been fed forward by the feedingdevices, a row of stamps will be cut from the sheet by a suitablecutter, which row of stamps when thus cut from the sheet will rest upona narrow front table 14, which is formed with a longitudinal feedway orslot 15 at right angles to the feed way or ways 7. A feeding device 16traverses the feedway or slot 15 for feeding the row of stampsintermittently forward to the lower end or foot-piece 17 of the plunger12, which foot-piece applies the stamps to the envelops, wrappers,or'other objects to which they are to be affixed. As each stamp is fedforward to the foot-piece of the plunger it is severed from the row ofstamps by a cut.

ting device located adjacent to the inner edge of the said foot-piece.

I do not limit myself to any special means for cutting the row of stampsfrom the sheet 6 or for cutting the stamps singly from the row ofstamps, as various cutting devices for these purposes may be employed.As here shown, the cutters act on the principle of shears. For cuttingthe rows of stamps from the sheets I have shown a blade. 18, fulcrumedat 19 and normally held in elevated position by a spring 20. The cuttingedge of the blade 18 operates in conjunction with a lower blade 21 andis adapted to be depressed for cutting by pressing down upon thethumbpiece 22 or by pressing down upon the blade itself. For cutting thestamps transversely and singly from the row of stamps I have shown ashear-like cutter 23, the upper blade of which is de ressed by a stud24, set in a recess in the p unger 12. The stud 24 is acted upon by aspring 25 of sufficient strength to out off the stamp and allow the studto remain in substantially stationary position while the lunger descendsto the limit of its downwar stroke.

The means for feeding the stamps forward to the cutter 23 may bevariously constructed, and I do not limit myself to the means shown. Ashere shown, the feeding is erformed intermittently by the operation 0the plunger 12 as the source of power, which moves forward a carriage26, on which the ios IIO

feeding device proper, 16, is mounted. The carriage 26 is mounted on arail 27 and is provided on one side with a pawl 28, which on the forwardmovement engages with the teeth of a rack-bar 29,which teeth are s acedfrom one another the length or the widt of a single stamp, as, the casemay be. The rackbar 29 is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 1by a spring 30 or equivalent means and is drawn forward the space of onenotch by the upward movement of the plunger 12. This is by preferenceeffected by a wire or cord 31, which is connected to the rack-bar at 32,passes around pulleys 33 34, and is connected to the plunger at 35. Witheach movement forward of the rack-bar 29 its notches, in conjunctionwith the pawl 28, move the carriage 26 forward one notch against theaction of the weight 36, which operates to return the carriage to itsstarting osition when the last stamp 1n the row has been fed forward. Inorder that the weight may thus erform its function, the pawl 28 1sdisengaged from the notches of the rack-bar by coming in contact withstud 37, which lifts it into the spring-catch 38, which holds the pawlout of engagement with the teeth of the rack-bar during the backwardmovement of the carriage. At the time the carriage reaches the limit ofits backward movement the pawl 28 is disengaged from the catch 38 bycoming in contact with an arm 39, which puts the pawl in position toengage again with the notches of the rack-bar to repeat the operation.In order that the return power or weight 36 shall not draw back thecarriage 26 with each backward movement of the rack-bar 29, the carriageis rovided on the side opposite to that to which the pawl 28 is attachedwith another awl 40, Fig. 3, which engages the teeth of a ed rack 41. Astud 42, like the stud 37, serves to lift the awl 40 out of engagementwith the teeth. of t e rack 41 at the limit of the forward movement ofthe carriage, and a catch 43, like the catch 38, serves to hold the pawlelevated during the backward movement of the carriage until it isdetached from the said catch at the limit of the return movement of thecarriage by coming in contact with stationary arm 44.

The means for feeding the sheet of stamps forward may be variouslyconstructed and, as here shown, consists of a carriage 45, mounted toslide on plates or bars 46 46 The feeding-fingers 8 are mounted on saidcarriage. Adjacent to the bar 46 is laced a rack-bar 47, having notchesor teet at its upper edge spaced the width or length of a stamp and withwhich a pawl 48, pivoted to the carriage, engages. The said rack-bar 47has attached to it a handle or lever 49, by which the operator moves therack-bar and carriage forward one notch once for each row of stampsappliedthat is, each time the carriage 26 returns to its startingposition the handle or lever 49 is to be drawn forward and back, whichwill cause the carriage to feed the sheet of' stamps forward one row ofstamps. The forward movement of the carriage is against the action of aweight 50 or equivalent means, attached to the carriage by a cord 51. Aspring 52 may be relied upon to return the rack-bar 47 and its handle 49to its normal osition. When the carriage 45 has reached the limit of itsforward movement, the pawl 48 comes in contact with a stud 53, whichlifts it out of engagement with the notches of the rack-bar 47 andengages it with a spring-catch 54, whereupon the weight 50 returns thecarriage to its starting-point ready for another 0 eration, the pawl 48be ing detached from the catch 54 at the limit of the backward movementby coming in contact with a stationary stud or arm 55.

In order to prevent the carriage 45 from being drawn back by the weight50 by each backward movement of the sliding rack 47, a fixed rack 56 isemployed on the other side of the machine, with the teeth of which racka pawl 57, pivoted to the carriage, engages. When the carriage reachesthe limit of its forward movement, the pawl 57 comes in contact with afixed stud 58, which lifts the pawl out of engagement with the notchesof its rack and into engagement with a catch 59, thus allowing theweight 50 to draw back the carriage. At the return limit of the carriagethe pawl 57 is disconnected from its catch by coming in contact with astud or arm 60, when the carriage is again ready to repeat its operationwith a new sheet of stamps put in the machine.

It remains to describe the method of moistening. As here shown, themoistening movement is arranged to apply the moisture to the envelop,wrapper, or other object to which the stamp is affixed. The article towhich the stamp is to be affixed is placed upon a support 61, beneaththe foot 17 of the plunger 12, and over which the moistening-pad 62 ismoved. The moistening-pad 62 is drawn backward by the downward movementof the plunger 12, the pad being attached to the plunger by a wire orcord 63, passing around the pulleys 64 65, (see Fig. 2,) and the pad isreturned to its moistening position by a spring 66.

67 designates by dotted lines, Fig. 1, a small casing to inclose thefoot 17 of the plunger, so that the stamps or labels as they are cut offsingly from the row of stamps will be guided down to the envelop orobject to which they are to be applied, and so that they will not bedisplaced by currents of air or otherwise.

In operation the envelop or other object to which the stamps or labelsare to be applied are placed upon the support 61 and shoved forwardbeneath the moistening-pad, which applies a primary moistening. Theplunger is then depressed, which severs a single stamp ICC IIO

from the row of stamps and at the same time draws back themoistening-pad, thus giving a second moistening, and at this timethestamp is firmly and reliably afiixed by the pressure of thefoot-piece of the plunger.

Having thus described my invention, wh at I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a stamp-affixing machine, a flat table composed of two partsseparated to form a space between them to receive a sheet of stamps,means operating in said space for intermittentlyfeeding the stampsforward, an auxiliary table composed of two parts, separated to form aspace parallel and in a plane with the first-named table, meansoperating in said space of the last-mentioned table for feeding a row ofstamps forward at right angles to the movement of the stamps on thefirst-named table, a cutter operating between the adjacent edges of thesaid tables, a plunger for applying the stamps located at one end of thesaid auxiliary table and means for moistening the stamps, sub stantiallyas described.

2. In a stamp-affixing machine a flat table adapted to hold a row ofstamps and com posed of two stationary parts, one above the other, oneof said parts being formed with a longitudinal slot, a feeding devicearranged to operate in said slot and means for operating said feedingdevice for intermittently feeding the row of stamps forward from end toend of said table, substantially as described.

3. In a stamp-affixing machine a flat main table, an auxiliary tableparallel and in a plane withthe said main table and composed of twoparts separated to form a space open at the edge adjacent to said maintable to receive a row of stamps from said main table, a

feeding device located in said space and means for moving said feedingdevice forward step by step from end to end of said space, substantiallyas described.

4. In a stamp-affixing machine a table adapted to receive a row ofstamps, a feedingfinger for moving the stamps forward, a carriage uponwhich said feeding-finger is mounted, a rack-bar, means forreciprocating said rack-bar, a pawl on said carriage adapted to engagewith the teeth of the rack-bar, and means for holding the carriage instationary position during the backward movement of the rack-barsubstantially as described.

5. In a stamp-affixing machine a main flat table having one or moreslots in the bottom thereof, a rack-bar, means for reciprocating saidrack-bar, a carriage operated by said rack-bar, feeding devices mountedon said carriage, means for holding the carriage during the backwardmovement of the rack-bar in combination with an auxiliary table arrangedto receive rows of stamps from a sheet of stamps on the main table andmeans for feeding the rows of stamps endwise on said auxiliary table,substantially as described.

6. In a stamp-afiixing machine a main flat table composed of two partsseparated to form a space to receive a sheet of stamps one of. thepart-s of the table being formed with one or more slots, a travelingcarriage having feed-fingers entering said slots. and a reciprocatingrack-bar for intermittently moving said carriage, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a stamp-affixing machine a flat table 5 having one or more slots 7therein, a plate 9 spaced from said table 5, a fiat table 14 parallelwith the table 5 and spaced therefrom, a cutting device operatingbetween the adjacent edges of the table 5 and table 14 and feedingdevices applied to said tables and op erating horizontally andintermittently at right angles to each other substantially as described.

8. In a stamp-aflixing machine a table composed of two parts betweenwhich the stamps are held one of said parts having one or more slotstherein, another table composed of two parts one of which is slotted atright angles to the slots in the first-named table, a cutting device forsevering the stamps between said tables, a feeding device for each ofsaid tables operating at right angles to each other, a plunger forapplying the stamps, a cutting device for severing the stamps betweenthe plunger and the last-mentioned table substantially as described.

9. In a machine-for aflixing stamps a table having a space in which thestamps are held flat, a plunger for applying the stamps, a reciprocatingrack-bar, a carriage intermittently operated the width or length of astamp by said rack-bar and a feeding-finger carried by said carriage,substantially as described.

10. In a machine for aiiixing stamps a rack-bar, a plunger, meansconnecting the plunger with the said rack-bar for moving the latter inone direction, means for moving the rack-bar in the opposite direction,a carriage provided with a pawl arranged to engage the notches of therack-bar, feed-fingers attached to said carriage and a table having aspace for holding the stamps in flat position, substantially asdescribed.

11. In a machine for affixing stamps a rack-bar, a plunger, meansconnecting the plunger to said rack-bar for moving it in one direction,means for moving the rack-bar in the opposite direction, a carriagehaving a pawl arranged to engage with the teeth of the rack-bar, meansfor disengaging the pawl from the rack-bar and means for engaging thepawl with the rack-bar, means for returning the carriage to itsstartingpoint, feeding devices attached to said carriage, a table havinga space for holding stamps in flat condition and means for preventingthe carriage from moving backward with the backward IIO movement of therack-bar substantially as rack-bar and means for preventing thecardescribed.

12. In a machine for afliXing stamps a main table having a spaceforholding stamps in fiat condition, a carriage provided With a feedingdevice for said stamps, a reciprocating rack-bar 47, a pawl on thecarriage arranged to engage With the notches of the riage from movingbackward with the back- 10 Ward movement of the rack-bar, substantiallyas described.

WILLIAM C. VAN VLIET.

Witnesses:

H. A. WEsT, MATTHEW BURNs.

